Voting machine



Oct. 21, 1941.

R. FL SHOUP VOTING MACHINE Filed March 7, 1939 2 sheets-sheet 1 H122.50m /CZO y df @W Oct 21, 1941- R. F. sHouP 2,259,590

VOTING MACHINE Filed March 7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 21,1941 VOTING MACHINE Ransom F. Shoup, Ardmore, Pa., assignor to The ShoupVoting Machine Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of DelawareApplication March 7, 1939, Serial No. 260,289

4 Claims.

This invention relates to voting machines and more especially to votingmachines of the general type disclosed in the patent to Shoup, et al.No. 2,054,102.

In some states or communities, the election law provides that in certainelections such, for example, as a primary election, a voter may cast avote for his first choice of one of a group of candidates and then if hedesires, cast a vote for his second choice from such group ofcandidates, the second choice being the Voters preference after hisfirst choice candidate receives sufiicient votes to elect him.

In the event that a voter indicates a second choice without indicating afirst choice, the law provides that his second choice shall be countedas a first choice for the `candidate which the voter has indicated ashis second choice.` Also, in the event that the voter indicates both hisfirst and second choice for the same candidate, only his first choicevote is counted. The result of the election is decided by a compilationof the first and second choice votes according to a predeterminedformula.

An object of this invention is to provide in a voting machine of thetype above referred to, mechanism which permits a voter to register afirst choice and a second choice for a given office and which willseparately register the number of votes each candidate receives as afirst choice and as a second choice, there also being provision forpreventing a voter from operating the second choice registeringmechanism until after he has operated the rst choice registeringmechanism and for preventing a voter changing his first choice withoutsimultaneously canceling the second choice made prior to changing hisfirst choice.

Other objects, novel features and advantages of this invention willbecome apparent from' the following specification and accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary rear elevation of a voting machine embodying theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section similar to Fig. 1 but morefragmentary and on a larger scale, illustrating indication of a firstchoice by a voter;

Fig. 3 is a view generally similar to Fig. 2 illustrating indication ofboth a first choice and a second choice by the voter;

Fig. 4 is a view generally similar to Fig. 1, illustrating amodification; Y d v d Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view generallyl similar toFig. 1 on a larger scale and partially in section, illustrating certaindetails not shown in Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6 is a section substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig, 5.

In the following description, the reference characters used correspondin so far as practical with the reference characters used in Shoup, etal, Patent No. 2,054,102 and Shoup Patent No. 2,191,086 in which isdisclosed more in detail and claimed certain construction herein shownand described for the purpose of making clear the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 6, spindles 3B have their rear ends journalled invertical straps 40 and at their front ends are provided with handles 30.Each spindle is provided with a gear 43 operatively connected to acounter 44, all as described in said Patent No. 2,054,102 and in ShoupPatent No. 2,140,336. Also, each spindle is provided with a pair of arms59 and 59' interconnected by a pin 59h to which is attached a draw bar6|. The draws bars 6| pass between rollers 62 having their endsprojecting into vertical grooves provided in a support 42 and being ofreduced diameter centrally. Every fifth roller 62 is provided with acentral bore through which and apertures yin the support 42 may bepassed a pin 63 for fixing such roller against bodily movement. Therollers 62 between fixed rollers are capable of limited relativemovement and each draw bar 6I is provided with a head or wedge 64adapted to be drawn between a pair of rollers 62 upon operation of thespindle 38 to which it is attached through a draw bar 6l. Each `draw baris of reduced width just to the left oi' the head 64, so that it lies inthe space formed by the reduced central portions of the rollers 62 topermit the ends thereof to contact with each other except when the head64 is moved between them by operation of a spindle. The abovearrangement corresponds to the spindle interlock of the aforementionedPatents Nos. 2,054,102 and 2,191,086.

Assume that it is desired to condition the ma- -chine for registeringfirst and second choices at a two-party primary in which one party hasfour candidates running for a particular oiiice and the 'other party hasthree candidates running for such oiiice. The upper four spindles of theeX- treme right column are allotted to the group of four candidates forfirst choice voting and the upper three spindles of the extreme leftcolumn are allotted to the group of' three candidates for first choicevoting (Fig. 1). The top spindles of the second, third and fourthcolumns from the extreme left column are labeled A, B, C, D, E, F,

and G to indicate that they are allotted to candidates A, B, C, D, E, Fand G for iirst choice voting. The upper four spindles of the second,A

third and fourth columns from the right and the upper spindles of thesecond and third columns from the left are labeled in the proper mannerwith the letters a, b, c, d, c, f and g to indicate.

the spindles allotted respectively to the candi-v dates A, B, C, D, E, Fand G for second choice voting. In each horizontal row of each gt :jihetwo groups, the second Vchoice spindles are-jallotted to the candidatesof the group-other than the one to whom "the iirst choicespindle is allotted. Y Y

Figs. V5 and 6 illustratestructure lcommon both to this application andShoupy Patent No. 2,191,086 which, while notY a part of the presentinvention gives a clearer understanding 4of 'the operation of themachine. 'Plates 59a are'atf tached to the arms 59 by thepin 591:"extending through aslot in each plate and are adjustable into differentpositions. Straight ticket bars are supported by 'swinging'links ISIIVand are atj tached by links |08 to pivotally supported Aplates lillVhaving slotsthrough which extend the pins 203. The straight ticket barsI 90 are also `adapted for co-,operation'with the plates |91 to lock thecolumns of spindles against operation' in one position of the straightticket bars and to re# lease such spindles for operation in anotherposition of such bar. In Fig. 5,1 the straight ticket bar is inposition' t'o be engagedV by -the plates 5911150V prevent operation ofthe spindles and is held in such position by mechanism not shown herein,but fully described in said 'Patent No. 2,191,086. The pin 203 isarranged'in the section 200 of the slot sothat it does not interierewithdownward movement of the bar |30.

To each spindle are attached arms 30|` interconnected a pin 302extending parallel to the spindle. The arms 30| for each rst'choicespin- 'dle are so arranged on the spindle that the pin 3Mlies'belowthe'level of the spindle axis inA both its voted'and unvotedposition. The arms 30| for eachV second choice 'spindle are soA arrangedon the spindle `that in the unvoted position of the spindle, the lpin302 is Vat the same level as the spindle 'axis and is swung to a lowerYlevel upon rotation of "the spindle into voted position. VThe pins 302on the arms 30| for the first choice spindles are spaced from thespindle axes a greater distance than the pins 302 on the arms 30| forthe second choice spindles. `Horizontal bars 303 rest upon horizontalrows of spindles and areslidable thereon. Each bar hasv a recess 304 in'which is received the pin '302 of a first choice spindle with the arms30| overlying the sides of the bar and is movable by rotation rof the f'tion -shown by the top bar in Fig.` 2 (voted posi rtion of thespindle); The recess 304 is of Vgreater length than the diameter of thepin 302 so as to permit additional movement of the bar 303 from theposition shown by the top bar in Fig. 2 into the position shown by thetop bar in Fig. 3, such movement being eiected by actuation of a secondchoice spindle. Each bar also is provided with a plurality of notches305 so arranged that after a bar 303 has been moved to its out-of-normalposition by movement ofthe associated rst choice spindle from unvoted tovoted position, the notches 305 underlie the pins 302 of the secondchoice spindles, thus providing a free path for such pins. However, whena bar 303 is in normal position, the upper edge of the bar lies in thepath of the pins 302 of the second choice spindles to prevent actuationthereof.

Each rst choice spindle is provided with an arm 300 through whichextends the pin 302 of the arms 30| for such spindle and which in turnis attached to a pull bar 6I. The pull bars 6|" are associated `withacontrol interlock similar' to the ymai-n interlock above described vandconsistL ing of rollers 62' mounted in lchannels ina support 42', everyiifth roller being provided with a central 'bore through which andapertures' in the support 42 may be passed a Apin |53t for iixing suchroller against bodily movement. 'The rollers 62 between fixed rollersare capable'of limited relative movement and each draw bar 6| isprovided with a head or wedge 64' adapted to be drawn betweena pair ofrollers 62 upon operation of the spindle to which it is attached througha draw bar SI.. Each draw bar is of reduced width just tothe left of itshead-so that it lies in the space formed bythe reducedrcentral portionof the roller 62 to permit thei ends thereof' to contact with eachothergexceptwhen a head 64 is moved between them by operation of aspindle. y

The mainV interlock is so*Y conditioned that it will permit theoperation' of two but only two bars 6| attached to spindles allocatedto'the canjdidates of one party. The auxiliary vinterlock is soconditioned that it will V-allow'the-operation of onlyr one bar 6|'attachedj to a spindle allocated tothe candidates of one` party.- Y

In Fig. 1 is illustrated the position of the various spindles upon entryof a voter into'the ma@ chine, the rstraight ticket bars |ior the fourright-hand columns having Vbeen lowered -to iree the spindles insuch'columns. 1 All the second choice 'spindles are locked by reason ofthe vkfact that the various bars 303 "lie in their paths, and no' one'of them can Vbe operated until after the operation of a iirst' choicespindle- Assume that the voter actuates the Afirst choice spindle A(Fig. V2). Such actuation pulls the corresponding wedge 64 between apair of ,rollers 625, thereby locking out the remaining ilrst choicespindles, and pulls the corresponding wedge 64 'between a pairoffrollers l62, thereby reducing to one the number of additionalspindles whichjmay be actuated.' Also, the actuation of theispin'dle Aeffects movement of the corresponding b-ar 303 sufficiently to theleityto place the notchesi 305 in the path of the pins 3020i the secondchoice spindles b, c and d. The remaining second choice spindles are,however, still locked as onlyI one `bar '303 has been actuated.- Next,the voter-actuates a second choicev spindle inthe samev'horizontal rowas the spindle A, Vfor'example rb (Fig. 3) Actuation of the spindle Abeffects movement of the corresponding pull bar 6I -to bring a head 64between Va pair of rollers62 and thus `prevent actuation' o'f any'othersecond choice spindle .in

the horizontal row. Also, actuation of the spindle b effects furtherleftward movement of the actuated bar 303 to bring the right-hand end ofthe slot 304 into contact with the pin 302 of the arm of the actuatedfirst choice spindle.

After a voter has indicated his first and second choice as abovedescribed, the registration of the vote is effected in the same manneras fully described in said Shoup Patent No. 2,054,102 and the actuatedbar 303 is returned to original position by the return movement of itscorresponding first choice spindle. At the end of the voting period,each counter associated with a first choice voting spindle registers thenumber of first choice votes cast for the candidate to which suchspindle was allotted and the figures registered by the countersassociated with the second choice spindles for each candidate representsthe distribution of the second choice vote for candidates as topreference after the first choice selection.

After a voter has indicated his first and second choice, he cannotchange his first choice indication without at the same time restoringthe actuated second choice spindle to unvoted position. This is due tothe fact that as shown in Fig. 3, the right-hand end of the notch 304engages the pin 302 associated with the actuated first choice spindle,while the pin 302 of the actuated second choice spindle engages theleft-hand end of the notch 305 into which it has been turned. Thus,return of the first choice spindle to unvoted position as is necessary tmake a change in the selection of the first choice results in therightward movement of the bar 303 to its original position withconcomitant counterclockwise movement of the actuated second choicespindle. The second choice spindle is returned to its unvoted positionbefore the first choice spindle reaches such position, due to the longerarc traversed by the pin 302 of the first choice spindle by reason ofthe greater distance of such pin 302 from the axis of the first choicespindle. Thus, it is impossible for a voter to register only his secondchoice vote.

In Fig. 4 is illustrated a set-up for five candidates in which onlythree columns of spindles are required. In this modification, alternatespindles in the extreme right column are allotted for first choicevoting and in the second and third columns from the right two horizontalrows of spindles are allotted for second choice voting for each firstchoice spindle. A bar 303 is provided for each horizontal row ofspindles and pairs of bars are connected by plates 300 for simultaneousactuation. Operation of more than one first choice spindle is preventedvby the spindle interlock above described and actuation of more than onesecond choice spindle likewise is prevented by the control interlockabove described.

It is of course understood that various modifications may be made in thearrangement above described without in any way departing from the spiritof the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a voting machine, a first spindle, a plurality of additionalspindles arranged in a row with said first spindle, a bar slidable in apath parallel to but offset from said row of spindles, means including alost motion connection for effecting bodily movement of said bar uponactuation of said first spindle, an arm on each additional spindleextending parallel to the length of said bar with the spindle in unvotedposition and having a portion overlying one edge of said bar, andnotches in said bar edge arranged to receive said arm portions onlyafter movement of said bar by actuation of said first spindle into votedposition whereby prior to actuation of said first spindle into votedposition said arm portions are engageable with the edge of said bar toprevent actuation of said additional spindles and whereby after movementof said bar by actuation of said rst spindle into voted position,actuation of any additional spindle effects movement of its arm portioninto a notch in contact with a side wall thereof to cause further bodilymovement of said bar, the extent of the lost motion existing betweensaid bar and said first spindle being equal to the extent of movement ofthe bar effected by actuation of any additional spindle into votedposition.

2. In a voting machine, the combination according to claim 1characterized by the extent of movement of the bar effected by saidfirst spindle being greater than that effected by any additionalspindle.

3. In a voting machine, the combination according to claim 1characterized by said lost motion connection comprising a recess in saidbar and a projection on said first spindle arm extending into saidrecess with the recess being greater in length than the diameter of theprojection by the extent of movement of the bar effected by actuation ofany additional spindle into voted position.

4. In a voting machine, the combination ac- 4 cording to claim 1characterized by said lost motion connection comprising a recess in saidbar and a projection on said first spindle arm extending into saidrecess with the recess being of greater length than the diameter of theprojection and further characterized by said first spindle armprojection being at a greater distance from the axis of rotation thansaid additionai spindle arm portions to effect greater movement of thebar by actuation of said first spindle into voted position than byactuation of any additional spindle into voted position.

RANSOM F. SHOUP.

